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Coastal sagewort

Artemisia pycnocephala

Last reviewed: September 2026

Coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala)
Photo: (c) Rhonda Ridley, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Toxicity unknown

Coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 24"–36" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

CA, OR

Pollinators

small native bees, flies

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A low, mounding subshrub with finely dissected, silvery-white foliage and small clusters of inconspicuous yellow-green flower heads on upright stems in late summer. Spreads by rhizomes to form dense colonies on stabilized dunes.

Wildlife value

The aromatic foliage is browsed by few animals, but the flowers provide late-season nectar for small native bees and flies, and the dense mounds offer shelter for ground-dwelling insects.

Common questions

How much sun does Coastal sagewort need?
Coastal sagewort grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Coastal sagewort bloom?
Coastal sagewort blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Coastal sagewort native?
Coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) is native to CA, OR, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Coastal sagewort attract?
Coastal sagewort draws small native bees and flies.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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